Amped Cycle Reviews
E-moto style with e-bike pedals.
The Zonveer ZX3 is an interesting middle ground between a traditional e-bike and a full electric dirt bike. It has the aggressive styling, 19-inch wheels, adjustable full suspension, big hydraulic brakes, and riding position of an e-moto, but Zonveer also gives it functional pedals.
Overview
If a regular e-bike looks too boring but a Surron attracts a little too much attention, the Zonveer ZX3 sits in an interesting spot between the two.
Visually, this thing absolutely looks like an electric dirt bike. It has a black frame with yellow and gold accents, inverted front forks, a Surron-style seat, 19-inch wheels, full suspension, a full twist throttle, and a battery integrated directly into the middle of the frame.
Then there are pedals.
That is probably going to be one of the biggest reasons people look at the ZX3. It offers the appearance and riding position of an e-moto while retaining functional pedals. That does not automatically make a 37 mph bike legal everywhere, so local regulations still matter, but visually it is definitely more under-the-radar than a pedal-less electric dirt bike.
Zonveer currently lists the ZX3 with a 2800W motor, 110 Nm of torque, a 37 mph top speed, 48V 25Ah battery, up to 65 miles of pedal-assist range, and a 265 lb maximum load. The current listed price is $1,399, down from the $1,799 price at the time of my review.
On paper, those numbers are not insane. The interesting part is how well the rest of the bike is built around them.
Our Latest Videos On The Zonveer ZX3:
Coupon Code
ZONVEER1515% off
Performance: Motor and Speed
The ZX3 uses a rear hub motor rather than a mid-drive.
That is important because even though this bike looks a lot like something in the Surron category, it does not deliver power the same way. Zonveer currently advertises 2800W of motor output and 110 Nm of torque.
In the real-world top speed test, the ZX3 reached right around 37 mph on GPS, almost perfectly matching Zonveer’s claim.
Acceleration is pretty good off the line. Twist the throttle and it gives a noticeable little kick, but it does not have that instant violent torque that a powerful mid-drive electric dirt bike delivers.
The ZX3 takes a little while to build toward its maximum speed. Once it gets into the low 30s, though, it cruises comfortably and feels extremely stable.
That is really the story of the drivetrain: adequate power inside a chassis that feels capable of much more.
The motor gets the job done, and 37 mph is plenty fast for riding around town or ripping down a trail, but after riding higher-voltage e-motos, it is obvious that the ZX3 is not trying to compete purely on acceleration.
There is also a 40A controller on the test bike. With a 48V system, that suggests actual electrical output around the 2,000W range under normal maximum controller draw, depending on battery voltage and what the battery can actually supply. That helps explain why the bike does not necessarily feel like a full 2800W is constantly hitting the rear wheel.
The motor itself is also surprisingly loud for a hub motor. It has a noticeable mechanical/electrical scream under acceleration. It almost makes the bike sound more powerful than it is.
Battery: Specs and Range
The ZX3 uses a 48V 25Ah battery, which gives it approximately 1,200Wh of total capacity.
Zonveer currently claims up to 65 miles using pedal assist and roughly 40–45 miles in pure electric riding.
Those are best-case figures, but 25Ah is still a solid battery size for this type of bike.
During testing, after around 16 miles, the ZX3 was sagging down to approximately two battery bars and showing around 48 volts. Most of that riding involved throttle use, high speeds, off-road sections, and repeatedly testing the acceleration.
Based on that experience, I would expect something closer to:
- 20–30 miles with hard throttle-heavy riding
- 30–40 miles with more moderate mixed riding
- Potentially farther using lower assist levels and actually pedaling
One thing I really like is how the battery is integrated.
Instead of bolting a giant rectangle onto the outside of a bicycle frame, Zonveer built the battery directly into the center of the chassis. It looks clean and intentional.
The pack is also removable. Turn the bike off, unlock the battery with the key, and it slides up and out of its track. That makes indoor charging or battery replacement much easier.
Specs at a Glance
TASACA T500-V58Motor
Rear hub motor, up to 2800W claimed
Battery
48V 25Ah / approximately 1200Wh
Top Speed
37 mph claimed / 37 mph GPS tested
Suspension
Adjustable inverted front fork + adjustable rear shock
Brakes
Hydraulic disc brakes with 203mm rotors
Tires
19-inch front and rear knobby dirt tires
Pedal Assist Levels
3
Price
$1,399 current sale price; $1,799 at time of review
Range
Up to 65 miles PAS / 40–45 miles pure electric claimed
Throttle
Full twist
Real-world results vary with rider weight, terrain, and weather.
Comfort and Build Quality
Up front, there are adjustable inverted forks, while the rear gets an adjustable shock. I softened the suspension for my riding style, and once it was dialed in, the bike felt excellent over bumps, grass, rough trails, and larger hits.
The difference becomes obvious off-road. A regular fat-tire e-bike might technically survive the same trail, but the rider gets beaten up in the process. The ZX3 actually feels designed to absorb rough terrain at speed.
Zonveer itself describes the ZX3 as using a high-carbon steel frame with 19-inch wheels and says the model was developed around mixed dirt riding, with hydraulic suspension and large brake rotors.
The 19-inch wheels are another major reason I like how this bike feels.
A lot of budget electric pit bikes use 14/12 or 17/14 wheel combinations. Those are fun, but they can feel small for an adult rider. The 19-inch setup gives the ZX3 a more natural dirt-bike riding position without turning it into a huge bike.
At 5’9″, I could comfortably flat-foot the ZX3, and the overall size felt almost perfect.
The frame also feels extremely solid. There are no major suspension squeaks, the chassis feels beefy, and everything gives the impression that the bike itself could handle considerably more power than it currently has.
If Zonveer ever builds a 60V or 72V version using this same chassis, things could get interesting very quickly.
Other Unique Features
NFC and PIN Security
The ZX3 uses NFC unlocking, and Zonveer also advertises PIN security. That is a nice upgrade over the basic key ignition found on many dirt-bike-style e-bikes.
Tap the NFC card and the display comes to life.
It is not going to stop someone from physically loading the bike into a truck, but it adds another layer of security for normal use.
Wide LCD Display
I really like the display on this bike.
Instead of a giant tablet-style screen sticking up from the handlebars, the ZX3 uses a low, wide display that blends into the cockpit nicely.
It shows speed, assist mode, lighting indicators, and turn signal information. It was also surprisingly easy to read during the daytime despite looking slightly dim in the garage.
High and Low Beam Headlight
The front light is another good feature.
There is a normal headlight mode as well as a high beam, with an indicator showing on the display when the high beam is active.
That actually makes sense on something designed to ride off-road at night. A lot of bikes include a headlight just so the spec sheet can say “headlight.” This one is legitimately useful.
Self-Canceling Rear Turn Signals
The ZX3 includes rear turn signals that automatically shut themselves off.
That is a surprisingly nice feature because there are few things more embarrassing than riding five miles with the left blinker on like someone’s grandfather driving a Buick.
The signal indicator also appears on the display.
Full Twist Throttle
The full twist throttle fits this bike perfectly.
It is light, easy to hold, and does not create much wrist fatigue when cruising for longer distances.
Throttle response itself could use some tuning, though. There is a noticeable dead area followed by a stronger hit of power rather than a perfectly linear response.
Large 203mm Brakes
The hydraulic brakes are excellent.
The test bike used large 203mm rotors, and there is plenty of stopping power for its 37 mph maximum speed.
They grab hard, feel consistent, and are one of the components that make the ZX3 feel like it was built to handle more performance than the motor currently provides.
Negatives
The biggest negative is the performance-to-price ratio.
When I originally reviewed the ZX3 at around $1,799, it was hard to ignore the amount of faster hardware available for similar money. There are 60V bikes, more powerful mid-drives, and significantly quicker mini e-motos around that range.
The current $1,399 sale price makes the ZX3 much easier to recommend, but raw speed still is not its biggest selling point.
The second issue is hill climbing. The bike looks like it should climb almost anything, but the rear hub motor does not have the same low-speed torque as a strong mid-drive.
Throttle response is also a little strange. There is some dead travel before the motor suddenly comes alive.
Another concern is controller placement. On the test bike, the controller sits underneath the front portion of the frame, surprisingly close to the front wheel. For a dirt bike that may see mud, water, rocks, and debris, I would rather see that component better protected.
The tail light placement is another strange decision.
It sits tucked far underneath the rear of the bike. From directly behind at a distance, it can be seen, but it would be much more effective mounted farther back where cars and other riders could easily see it.
There was also a small rattle somewhere around the bike during the test, although the suspension itself remained impressively quiet.
Finally, the kickstand sits very close to the rear tire and did not always snap back as confidently as I would like.
None of these problems ruin the bike, but they keep an otherwise very polished chassis from feeling perfect.
Amped Pros
What We Liked
- Excellent dirt-bike-style suspension
- Very stable at 30–37 mph
- Full-size 19-inch wheels feel great for adult riders
- Strong hydraulic brakes with large rotors
- 48V 25Ah battery provides solid capacity
- Battery is cleanly integrated and removable
- Functional pedals make it more versatile
- Full twist throttle feels natural
- NFC and PIN security
- High/low beam headlight
- Self-canceling rear turn signals
- Chassis feels extremely solid
- Clean black, gold, and yellow styling
- Current $1,399 price is much more competitive
Amped Cons
What Could Be Better
- Hub motor lacks the torque of competing mid-drives
- Acceleration takes time to build toward 37 mph
- Weak throttle-only performance on steep hills
- Throttle response has an awkward dead zone
- Controller placement is exposed underneath the bike
- Tail light is hidden too far underneath the rear
- Single-speed drivetrain is awkward for real pedaling
- Motor is louder than expected for a hub drive
- Minor rattle on the test bike
- Kickstand sits very close to the rear tire
- Original $1,799 price was difficult to justify
Final Thoughts
The Zonveer ZX3 is a good example of a bike where the numbers do not tell the entire story.
If I only looked at a 48V battery, 2800W claimed motor, and 37 mph top speed, I probably would not be that excited about it. There are faster bikes for the money.
But riding the ZX3 makes the appeal much easier to understand.
The suspension is excellent. The brakes are excellent. The 19-inch wheels feel natural. The chassis is stable, the riding position feels like a real dirt bike, and the whole package feels extremely solid.
In fact, the frame almost feels overbuilt for the drivetrain. I would trust this chassis with considerably more power.
The pedals are also part of what makes the ZX3 interesting. This is not just another tiny electric pit bike. It gives riders who want a Surron-style experience something that looks a little more like an e-bike and still has functional pedal assist.
At $1,799, I thought it was expensive for the performance.
At the current $1,399 price, I think the argument changes quite a bit.
If maximum speed per dollar is the only goal, there are better options. But if the priority is build quality, suspension, stability, 19-inch wheels, pedals, and an electric dirt-bike riding experience, the Zonveer ZX3 is a genuinely fun bike.
It just needs more power to fully take advantage of how good the rest of the platform is.
Coupon Code
ZONVEER1515% off
Looking for more e-bike reviews? Check out our latest guides on Amped Cycle or expert insights on electric bikes and PEVs!
Affiliate Disclaimer
Amped Cycle offers objective personal electric vehicle reviews. Some bikes we buy, some bikes are sent by the manufacturer or 3rd party. Any links used in this article and our YouTube channel may be affiliate links, Which means we make a commission that helps support our channel when you buy through those links. It costs nothing extra to you.
Zonveer sent us the ZX3 for us to test in exchange for an honest review. No money changed hands, and we are not sponsored by the company. All opinions are our own.
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